Bikes?

My heart is soft for the homeless in our society. One of my BFF's just dreamed a very extreme dream about it the other night...we were letting a homeless man stay with us and found out he was a werewolf, but I promised she would be safe staying with us too because we tied him up at night. I also bribed her to stay by buying all her favorite coffee creamers. Crazy!!

Back to reality...I remember being at McDonald's on Barton Springs in downtown Austin when I was a little girl as homeless man walked in and asked if they could spare a Happy Meal for him, but they turned him away. I looked at my dad with tears in my eyes and said "Please? He asked for a HAPPY MEAL!!??", so my sweet dad chased him down and bought the man a Happy Meal. So, maybe that's where the Lord planted a seed?

We were involved in an awesome ministry serving the homeless in Kansas and since back in TX, I've been longing to serve in that arena again and just can't seem to get connected - or I have a load of excuses like, "I just had a baby...I have twins in 1st grade...I don't live downtown (oh, but I WOULD if it was up to me!!!)...I don't know where to start, etc., etc." I. I. I. = NO good. Life is a vapor. I don't want to look back and see I did nothing with what I was given.

We are actually finally about to get trained with Mobile Loaves and Fishes - a great help to the homeless in our city. BUT...we had our own idea the other day - give bikes away to the homeless! Is it a crazy idea? Are we naive? Would it even be helpful or would they laugh in our faces when we hand them a bike? It just seems like it could help them get around...shelters, job interviews, jobs, out of bad weather, to and from wherever they call "home", whatever. Austin is such a bike-friendly place and it's really easy to get around on one here. But, really, we just need to talk to them and see if it's even a need. And yes, there is the thought that whatever we give them could be sold for money to buy drugs and alcohol because that's what we think all homeless people do, right? Maybe sometimes, maybe not - that's not our call. The bottom line is - when we show people Jesus' love, they are moved (and we are humbled). Maybe not the first time and maybe not every time, but one time is worth it.

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

James 2:16

Life changing read: Same Kind of Different as Me